Broaching machine



June 11, 1940. M RQMAINE "2,203,798

BRoAcHInG 1110111111:

Filed Nov. 25, 195e 7 sheets-sheet 1 MINIMUM,"

Wa/.m

ATTORNEY.

June 11, 1940. M RRRRR NE 2,203,798

June 1l, 1940. M. ROMAINE 203,798

BROACHING 1imacfinus Filed Nov. 23, 195s v sheets-sheet 5 WM/.am

ATTORNEY.

M. ROMAINE BROACHING MACHINE June l1, 1940.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. /Vmd /f www ATTORNEY.

June l1, 1940. M RQMAINE 2,203,798

BROACHING MACHINE ATTORNEY.

June ll, 1940. M. ROMAINE BROACHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 23, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 l NNN vw i ww M. ROMAINE BROAGHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23, 1956 J QR.

June 11, 1940.

www www QN MEN NNMMNI Patented June 11, 1940 PATENT OFFICE N `2,203398 BRoAcHiNG MACHINE Millard Romaine, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to The Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 23, 1936, seria; No. 112,20?.

11 Claims.

This` invention relates `to breaching machines and more particularly te improved means for presenting Werk to breaching tools,

One of the objects of this invention is to previde a` machine in which work having twee opposing faces to be breached may with facility be presented to the breaching tools with a minimum amount of handling.

l i Another: object of this invention is to` provide alnovel -lnechanismior turning werk without requiring any lifting on the part of the operator.

A further object of this invention is te provide l ani improved indexible Work holder mechanism which is especially adaptable for breaching purposes. .l l

mi additional object of this invention is to provide an improved interlocking mechanism betweenan indexible work :holder and a breaching ram,` whereby., the ram can not be power operated during indexing, or the work holder can not be power indexed during the reciprocation of the ram. l

`Stillvanether object of this invention is to provide means whereby the breaching ram will `be automatically stopped at each end of its stroke and thereby insure that the work fixture is in preper condition tobe indexed, which thereby safeguards the operator. l

Another object of this `invention is` to `provide a work holder with improved locking and power` clamping means. l r l l.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily.` apparent by reference to the following specification, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings ilustrative or one embodimentthereof, but it will be understood `that any modifications can be made in the specific structural details without depart ing from or exceeding the spirit oi the invention. Referring to the drawings in which like refer` l ence numerals indicate like or similar parts:

Figure 'l is an "end` elevation ef a breaching machine embodying the principles of this invennon. o o Figure 2` is a plan viewof a portion loef` the `machine showing more particularly the werk holderfand associated conveyors. l o Figurei-` is a vertical section through the work helder taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectienon the lined-Jl of Figure. Figure 5 is a section en the line 5-5 of Figure 4. lFigure 6 is a section onthe line 6-6 of Figure 3 showingthe details of the indexing mechanism.

`ljigure 7 is a vertical section through the work (el. :io-33) holding drum and taken on the line 'l--l of Figure 3. r j

Figure 8 is a detail section as viewed `on the line 8 8 of Figure `7.

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of 5 Figure 7. r i

Figure 10 is a detail section on the line `Ill--Ill of Figure 2. r l

Figure 11 is a diagram ofthe hydraulic operating circuit for the breaching ram, and one of 10` the werk clamp control circuits. r

FigurelZis an end view of the work holding drum as viewed on the line I2I2 of Figure 3. Figure 13 is a detail sectonalview on the line l3-I3 of Figure 3. r

Figure 14 is a section en the linell4-I4of Figure 6. l l r Figure 15 is a section on the line `l5-Iii of Figure 14. r l

Figure 16 isxasectien on the line `lli-fili of 20 Figure 14. 1

Figure 17 isa diagram of the hydraulic control and interlocking circuit of the machine.

Figure 18` is a detail section on the line l8-l8 `of Figure 5. 1 r -25 Figure` 19 is a section on 'the 1inexI9--l9 of Figure 7. g

`Figure 20` isa detail section on the line 20-20 of Figure 2.

Figure 21 is a detail section on the line 2I--2l 30 of Figure 20. o

The general structure of themachine embody-` ing the principles of this invention `is shown in Figure 1 of lthe drawings, and comprises, in general, a base or main support 20 upon `which a 35 ram 2l is `reciprecably mounted in horizontal guideways 22. This ram carries two breaching tools 23and; 24, each of which iswide enough `te breach one face or side of a work piece. This ram is reciprocated` by a piston 25 shown in 40 Figurell, which is connected to the ram by a pistonrod 26. l The piston reciprecates in a cylinder 21 which, as shewnin `Figure 1, isattached to the main supportZlJ.

Referring again to Figure'll, the opposite ends of` cylinder 2l are connected by channels 28 and 29 to ports `30 and 3l of athree-pesition control valve 32, the plunger 33 of which has a central or stop position, a feed position en one side of the step position, and a return position on the other side of said stop position. i

u Fluid pressure for operating the piston is sup--` plied by a constant displacement pump `34, having an intake 35 through which fluid is withdrawn,

from a reservoir 36, and a delivery pipe 3l which is connected to the supply port 35 of the valve 32. The line 3l' also has a branch 36 connected to a second supply port di! of valve 32. If so desired, an emergency relief valve ti may be connected to the channel 3l for permitting excess duid tobe returned tothe reservoir Afreturn channel `dii is connected to port G55 oi the valve.

When 'the plunger 33 is in its stop position, in which it is shown in Figure ll, the pressure port fili is connected by cannelure ifi to port it and thereby to reservoir, whereby undue pressure will not build up inthe system when the ram is stopped. n

When the plunger 33 is shiftedvto the left of the position shown in Figure 11, port 33 is connected to port 6l by the cannelure 65 in plunger 33 and iiui'd pressure is admitted to the right hand end of cylinder 2l, thereby moving the ram to the left on a breaching or cutting stroke. The fluid in the left hand end of cylinder 2 is returned to reservoir through channel 28, whose terminal port 36 is connected at this time by cannelure 46 to the return port 61.

When the plunger 33 is shifted to the right to its return position, fluid pressure from the pump is delivered to channel 28' through interconnection ofports 30 and 3B to cause the piston 25 to move toward the right. At this time the 4port 3| is isolated for interlocking purposes, anid therefore a shuttle valve 48 has been` provided having a plunger 49 which will be in a position to connect the channel 29 to va branch line 56 of return line 42. For present purposes it will now be apparent that the operation of the broaching ram is controlled by a valve which has three positions for respectively effecting :a'feeding movement to the left, va stop, and ahrapid return movement to the right, rthe rapid return movement automatically resulting from the piston differential because the piston rod 26 only passes through one end of the cylinder.

The machine of this invention is especially designed for breaching work pieces on two opposed sides, but in order to increase the productive capacity of the machine it is so arranged that two work pieces are broached simultaneously, but on opposite sides respectively. In addition, the work pieces, which happen in this instance `to be cast iron cylinder heads, are heavy to handle and to prevent physical exhaustion of the operator in turning these work pieces over after one side has been broached, means have been provided for assisting in this operation by eliminating the necessity for the operator to lift the'work piecesin order to reverse them. To these ends an indexible work fixture has been provided, which is in the form of a rotatable drum, as more particularly shown in Figures 2,3, 4, '7, and 12 to which reference may now be had.

As shown in Figure 4 the drum has four work receiving xtures indicated generally by the numerals 5I, 52, 53,-and 5. As viewed in Figure 4,

the drum rotates when indexed in a counterbe held uniform.

spear/9e In Figure 8, the work piece is indicated by the reference numeral 56, and the series of combustion chambers by the numeral 5l. As there shown, the fixture 5I is provided with a pair of equalizing plungers 56 and 59, the exposed ends of which engage the top walls of the two combustion chambers at one end when the work piece is placed in the xture and the opposite ends o-f theplungers are beveled to'engage the beveled ends of an equalizing rod 60. This tends to average out any slight variations in longitudinal alignment of these walls, and still provide a solid backing for the work piece during the breaching operation.

A second set of equalizing plungers 6| and 62 is provid-ed to engage the walls of the two com` bustion chambers at the other end of the casting, and these plungers are in longitudinal alignment with the first set of plungers whereby they cooperate with them to act as stops to position the work. As shown in Figure 19, since all of these equalizing plungers engage the lower part of the casting, it is necessary in order to parallelly align the work with the broaching tool, that a fixed stop 63 be provid-ed to engage the upper part of the casting, with the result that a form of three-point support is provided, and this is true because either pair of equalizing plungers may be considered as one point of support because of their equalizing ability.

The three-point support serves to properly align the casting, but it is necessary to provide additional means to prevent deflection ofcthe casting under cut, especially at the upper leftv and right hand corners as viewed in Figure, 19.V kThis means comprises a pair of spring jacks or plungers 64 and 66 as shown in Figure 9, and the ends of these plungers are normally projected beyond the plane of the three-point supports by springs 66 when the xture is unloaded. As the xture is loaded,.these plungers will be retracted by the casting, and although they exert some force on 'the casting, nevertheless it is not suiicient to interfere with the proper locating of the work. v,

Means have been provided for locking these spring jacks in whatever position they happen to be forced into by the casting, and this means comprises a pair of clamping rods 61 and 68, which are beveled at one end to engage beveled notches 69 form-ed in the side of plungers 64 and 65, and beveled at the other end to engage the tapered end of fluid actuated plunger l0.

The plunger 16 is actuated by a piston 1I, slidably mounted in a small cylinder 12 carried by the workrdrum, and a piston rodl 13 integral rwith the piston engages `the end of the plunger 1li. When fluid pressure is admitted to the lower end of cylinder 12, as viewed in Figure 9, the piston'll moves the plunger upward to clamp the spring jacks; and when fluid pressure is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder, the piston rod 'i3 is retracted from the end of plunger 1U. There is no positive connection between the piston and theA plunger and therefore additional means are provided consisting of a pin 14, which is slidably mounted in the end of plunger 'l0 with one end `in engagement with Va xed abutment l5, andthe other end in engagement with a spring 'I6 confined in the bore in which the pin 14 slides. In other words, the spring 'I6 is constantly acting to retract the plunger l0 and it is only when the piston 'Il has beenretracted that the spring becomes effective.

In addition to the foregoing, it is necessary to aeoavesr` provide additional means for locating the casting in the fixture for clamping purposes, and to this end a locating stop 1l has been provided, which stop is not carried by the drum but is mounted on a fixed part of the bed, as more particularly shown in Figures 2 and 19. Two additional stops `I8 and 19 are provided for locating the work vertically with the result that the stops 19 and 11 cooperate to sort of form a corner into which the casting can be pushed by the operator to properly locate the same in the fixture.

For the purpose of holding the work in the :tixture, a pair of upper clamping members 8|) and `8| are provided, which have heads formed on the end thereof for engaging lugs 82 which project from the side ofthe casting; and a pair of pivoted `clamping members 83 and 84, which also `engage lugs 85 formed cn `the other side of the casting. The clamping members 83 and 84 act upwardly to force the casting against the stops '|,8`and 'I9` while the two clamping bolts80 and 8| act `to draw the casting in against the xture.

The power operable means for actuating the clamping bolts 88 and 8| is shown inFigure 5,

`and since@ the means for actuating each bolt is the sameonly one will be described. For in-` stance, the bolt 88 is actuated bya piston 88 slidably mounted in a cylinder 8l and connected by a `piston rod 88, having a` beveled end 89, for actuationof a cross pin 98. This pin is beveled at both ends for transmitting motion to clamping plunger 9|. The end of the clampingplunger has flattened sides 92 so as topass through a cross slot formed in theend `of the clamping bolt 80. A spring pressed pin 93` tends to urge the clamping bolt 9| toward the right and a spring-94 tends to .urge the clamping bolt into a work releasing position. In addition, the flattened endof the clamping plunger 9| is beveled so as to engage the beveled side of the cross slot formed` in the bolt 88, whereby upon admission of iiuid pressure to the left hand end of cylinder 81, the clamping bolt 89 will be retracted or drawn into engagemounted at the lower end of the xture by means of a pin 91, as more particularly shown in Figure 4, and on that side of the pin opposite to the work, a bolt 98 is passed through the member 83 and threaded in the drum for the purpose of sup-` porting spring 99, which is coniined between the `end oi' the clamping member 83 and a pair of locked nuts |98 threaded on the end of member l 98. This springtends to rotate the member 83 into a work releasing position. Referring to Fig- `ure 3, there is shown the fluidloperable means for i actuating these members which comprises pistons Illl and |92 slidably mounted in cylinders |93 and |84 respectively, and the` pistons have bevel-endedpistonrods and |08, which engage the beveled ends of plungers |01 and |08 respectively. The ends of the plungers `engage the ends of the clamping members 83 and `81| so that, upon admission of fluid pressure to the abutting ends of cylinders|83 and |84, the levers 83 and 84 will be rotated in a direction to clamp the work against the stops 18 and 19.

, Theiluid control circuit which governs actuation of the piston 1|, shown in Figure 9, the pistons 86 and 95, shown in Figure 5, and the pistons ||J| and |82, shown in Figure 3, is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 17. Although only one manually operable control valve is provided in this circuit, it should be obvious that all of these pistons should not operate at the same time, but preferably in a certain sequence in order to insure proper position of the work. In other words, it is preferable that the pivoted clamp members 83 and 84 be operated first in order to insure that the work is brought up against the stops i8 and i9 and thereby properly position the lugs 82 under the heads of the plungers 8|) and 8|. After this has been accomplished,it is preferable that the clamping members 80 and` 8| be actuated to draw the work in against the fixed stop E3 before the spring jacks 64 and 65 are sufi Y ciently clamped to restrain this movement.

With this thought inimind, there has been provided, in addition to the main control valve |99, a pair of sequence interlocking valves llt) and A separateconstant displacement pump ||2 is provided for supplying` fluidpressure to this circuit, and this pump is connected to pressure port I E3 of Valve |99, which also has a pair of exhaust ports H4 and H5. `In addition, the valve |09 has a pair of ports IIB and through which fluid is delivered or returned` depending upon the position of the valve plunger ||8 to the hydraulicallease the respectively connected devices, whereby` the fixture is in condition to receive a new piece of work.

The fluid from the abutting ends of cylinders 96 and `8`| will return through channel |24 and check valve |25 to channel |26; the returning iiuid from cylinder I2 will flow through channel |27 and check valve |28 to channel |26, which channel also has directly connected thereto the opposing ends of cylinders |93 and |84, whereby all the returningfluid from these various cylinders will be conducted by channel |28 to portY of valve |99 which, at this time, is connected to exhaust port` H9. When the operator is ready to clamp the work he shifts the plunger ||8 of valve|89 to the right, as Viewed in Figure 17,`

by means of the manually operable handle |29 which is pivotally mounted on the side ofthe drum, as `more particularly shown in Figure 12. This will connect the pressure portl ||3 to port lil and channel |28, whereby the pressure will mally held in the position shown in Figure l'lby a spring |3|. Likewise thesequence Valve H0 75l vof the sequence interlocked Valves.

has a plunger |32 which is normally, held in the position shown by a spring |33. y

It Will be noted that the channel |25 is directly connected by a branch line |34 to the end of valve l land by a second branch line |55 to the end of valve l i0. Thus when the main control. valve plunger I8 is shifted, the fluid pressure will immediately act en the ends of plungers. |50 and |32 The springs of these valves are so set, however, that the plunger |30 will not shift until a certain predetermined pressure has built up in channel |26 due to vcompletion of actuation of pistons IGI and |02.

When this predetermined pressure has built up,

VDivoted clamping members |42.

the, plunger |3i3 will be moved to the right, and branch line i3d will then be connected to port |35 whereby fluid will flow directly into channel yto port |37, and the fluid will flow through channel |2l to the cylinder 'l2 to actuate the piston lll and thereby the spring jacks 64 and 65. It will new be evident that the work fixture 6| is adapted to receive the rough castings as they are fed to the machine by. conveyor 55, and that it is provided with means. for properly locating and supporting a casting therein, and that the drum |35, upon which this fixture is mounted, has self-contained therein apower operable control Circuit for clamping and securing the work in desired position for breaching one side thereof.

When the drum |38 has been indexed through an angle of 180, as viewed in Figure 4, it will be apparent that the fixture 53 will be moved to station A and occupy the same position with respect te the conveyor 55 that the fixture 5| new occupies. In other words, this xture is also adaptable for receiving rough castings from the conveyor and it is provided with the same locating and clamping means` and the same hydraulic controlr circuit that the fixture is provided with, and therefore it is not believed to be necessary to repeat the description of these parts.

Y' The other two xtures 52 and 5t carried by the drum |30 are adapted to receive the semi-finished castings, which may be dened herein as those castings which have already been breached on one side. In other words, after the casting in fixture 53, as viewed in Figure 4, has been breached en one side, the drum |38 is indexed through an angle of 90 after which the casting is removed from fixture 53,reversed, and after another indexing of the drum through an angle of 90, is reinserted in fixture 54. The means for locating and clamping the semi-nished castings in'fixtures. 52 'and 5d in exactly the same and therefore only one of these will be described.

, Referring to Figure 4, the fixture 52 is provided with two hardened locating strips |39 and |40 which extend rlongitudinally of the fixture, and they have locating faces which 4lie inthe same vertical plane and against which the breached surface of the casting may be placed to properly align the opposite face for breaching. The xkture also has a horizontal locating surface |4| upon which the semi-nished casting may rest, and against which it is' adapted to be clamped by 'endof this fixture is another end stop similar to the one shown in Figure19.

Adjacent one The pivotediclamping members |42 are similar in construction to those for the fixture below and are operated by the same sort of mechanism, Which is shown in detail in Figure 3, and oper,- able by pistons M3 and |44 slidably mounted in cylinders |45 and |46 respectively. The circuit for controlling operation of these pistons is more' particularly shown in Figure 11 and comprises a manually operable reversing valve |417 having a plunger |58 operatively connected tothe manual control MS. This valve has the conventional pressure port |50, which is supplied by a pump |5l; a pair of exhaust ports |52 and |53; and a pair ofports |55 and |55, the first of which is connected'by channels to that end of cylinders M5 and |40 which, upon admission of fluid pressure, will cause unclamping of the work, and the other port is connected to the abutting ends of the cylinders so that, upon admission of fluid pressure thereto, the work Will be clamped.

It will now be seen by reference to Figure 12 that there are four control valves mounted on the end of the drum for clamping the work in the various fixtures; and that the-valves operable by handles |25 control they clamping of the rough castings, and that the valves controlled by the handles |59 control the clamping of the seminished castings. f

In the operation of the machine one stroke of the breaching ram will affect simultaneously the c breaching of two surfaces; that is, the rst surface on a rough casting and a second surface on a semi-finished casting. The ram then stops and the drum i323 is indexed through an angle of 90. As this indexing takes place a fixed pin |56, Figures 3 and 12, trips one valve control lever |29 and one control lever |59, thereby automatically unclampingboth work pieces by the time they reach station D.

Referring to Figure 4, the work piece infxture 5d will now be breached on both sides, and ready ,for removal from the fixture onto the inclined vconveyor |51, upon which it will move by gravity Y away from the machine.

The other Work piece in vfixture 53 will be moved toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2, into an oscillatable cradle |58 which is'supported to swing about the axis of a shaft |59. In order tor hold the cradle in the horizontal position shown, it has integrally secured thereto a counter- Weight arm 60 upon Vwhich is adjustably mounted a counterweight |6|. In addition, there is secured to the cradle a disc |62, Figure 20, in the face of which is formed a pair ofA notches |63 apart.

A spring pressed detent |64 is mounted in the support for engagement with these notches to further assist in holding the cradle in either its horizontal position, or in a vertical pesitionto which it will be swung clockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, by the operator for subsequent transfer of werk into fixture 54 after another 90 indexing of the drum |58. In order to limit the movement of the cradle to the 90 swing, the plate |62 is cut away for 90 on its periphery, and a pin |66 is fixed in the support |65 for engagement of this cut-away portion to positively limit the swing oi" ythat the work piece in the cradle lwill now be in` alignment with the xture 54, whereby upon subsequent `transfer of the semi-finished work piece'fromthe cradle into the fixture that the unfinished side of the workpiece will be exposed for` breaching, and the resultant effect is the same asif` the `operator had removed the semi1 nishedwork piece `fronione `fixture and turned it over and replaced it in the other iixture, It

shouldA beobvious that by means of this auxiliary cradle, that` the reversing ofthe work is accomplished without any "manual lifting on the part of the operator. i

To facilitate removal of work from the fixtures at station D, a long cylinder |01` is mounted on top ofthe bed is an aligned position with the work, and `this cylinder contains a piston |08 and rod |69 to the end of which is attached a head |10 which is sufficiently wide to engage the ends `of both work pieces.

`As shownin Figure 17, admission of fluid pressure to this cylinder is controlled by a valve l'il whichhas a plunger |12 normally urged by a spring |13` into a position causing retraction of the piston. When the valve plunger |12 is `shifted to the right, as viewed in Figure 1'1, by the handle |14, thepressure` port |15 whichis suppliedi'rom y aconstant displacement pump |16, is connected to channel |11 whereby fluid will flow to the left hand end of cylinder |61 `and cause the piston |68 to advanceand remove both work pieces from the fixtures.

When the operator lets go of the handle i |10, which is loc-ated adjacent the cylinder |01jas shown in Figure 2, the spring |13 will reposition the valve plunger |12 to connect port |15 to the righthand end of `cylinder |61, and thereby auto-` matically cause retraction of the piston |08.

` In order to prevent longitudinal shifting of the workwhile under out at station C, apair of positive stops has been provided adjacent the ends of the work pieces, as morepartcularly shown in `Figure 10, and consists of two segment blocks i |18 and |10`which are pivotally supported at |80 and 18| on the bed 20,\and springs |82 aoton `these members to normally hold them in the full line position in which they are shown in` this iigure. Asviewed in this figure, the work pieces, as `they index, move upward relative to the support 20 and as they engage these segment blocks theyslightly rotate them into their dot-and-clash line position, which thusplaces `their work abutting "faces in substantial parallelism with the end faces of the work.` It` will be obvious that the springs serve the purpose of holding the blocks in such a position that during indexing they will not catch on the corners of the work respectively. The endbracket |86 also contains the mechanism for indexing the drum. This mechanism is'actuated by a piston` |81', as shown in Figure 6, which isslidably mounted in a cylf inder` |88, and a piston rod |80 whichis `con and thereby cause damage to the parts.

, Referring to Figure 3,` the drum |30 has intcgral `axially extending `journals |30 and |84, which are supported on anti-friction bearings |85, mounted in the` end brackets |00 and |81 nected to a slide |00 i guided for longitudinal movement in `the bracket |86, as more partieularly shown in Figure 3. slideoperates a Geneva meohanismcomprising a roller |0| attached` to the slide |00,` and a crank arm |82 se- `cured to theend of shaft |03 in which is formed a slot |04 for` receiving the roller |0|.

, The shaft |08 has a gear |05 keyed tothe other endjthereof` and intermeshing with a gear |00 integran with the ratchet plate mi. This ratchet plate carries a spring pressed ratchet pawl |08, which is adapted `to cooperate with notches |09 formed on the hub 200 of locking plate 20|, the `latter being keyed to the `drum supporting shaft.

The plate 20| has four radially extending looking notches 202 formed in the periphery there-` of for engagementby the locking plunger203. This locking plunger is slidably` mounted in a sleeve 204 `mounted in a bore of the bracket `and is normally urged upward into lockingposition by` a spring 205 connedbetween the lower end of the plunger 203and a shoulder 206 integral with the casting. Since it would require i an exceptionally strong spring to drive the locking bolt home on account of the` weight of the` drum and supported work pieces if the same were `slightly out of alignment, additional means have been provided for assisting in this` function so that the spring 205 does not have to be vmade so strong.` `This auxiliary means is shown inFigure 1'1 and comprises a piston 201 slidably `mounted in a cylinder208, and with the upper `end thereof abutting the lower end of a push rod 200 which is threaded into the locking plunger 203.

In orderto maintain thepiston 201 inconstant engagement with the end of push rod 200,

aplunger `2|0 is `slidably mounted inthe end of the piston `201 and a spring `2|| is inserted in the plunger bore between the end of plunger 2|0 and the piston 201 so asto constantly urge the latter upward into engagement withnthelower end of the push rod. The lower end of the cylinder has `a port2|2 which is connected by channel 2|3` to port 2M of `an interlock control valve 2|5.

` This valve has a plunger 2||i `which is n'ormally urged upward` by a spring 2H, but when the plunger is depressed by a dog `2|8 carried by the indexing slide |00, the port `2|fl isconnected by an annular groove 2|8 to pressure port 2|0.

In `other words, when the vslide |00 completes one reciprocation, the dog 2|8"depresses the plunger 2|6 and connects pressure `to thelower pawl |08 from causing backward movementof the parts, an additional spring` pressed `pawl220 is provided for engaging one side of the notches 202, thereby preventing return movement of 4plate 20|, but the end of the pawl is beveled at to pick up the next notch |00, a `cam surface 222 formed on the ratchet plate |01 engages the end.

of the locking plunger"203 and effects its with- 4,5"` wend of the cylinder 208 to assist the spring 205 to drive home the locking plunger 203. i i i In order to prevent friction of the ratchet drawal from the locking notch by the time that the ratchet pawl |08 engages the next notchl |00. Upon` return movement of the plunger |81 to the left the parts are indexed through an` angle of and at the proper time a control dog 2|8 dei presses the plunger 2|6 to cause hydraulic actuation of the locking bolt, thereby completing one Y indexing movement.

This machine does not operate on a continuous repeating cycle, but executes substantially oriehalf of `its cycle and then automatically stops,

after which the operator must throw astarting ment of some of the parts.

leverto cause vthe machine to automatically comn plete the otherhalf of its cycle. The sequence of happening is the same for each halt cycle, except for a difference in the direction of move- The cycle is so arranged that when the operator throws a starting lever the first thing that occurs is the indexing of the Work support or drum. In other words, the piston |81 moves in cylinder' |28 irst to the right to eiect the ratchet stroke of the indexing mechanism, and then to the left to index the drum yand then by means of automatic trip mechanism it comes to a stop.

Simultaneously and automatically, by means of` other trip mechanism, a pilot valve is operated which throws the main control valve32 for the 'ha-lf cycle of operation.

' Thestarting lever 223 is pivotally mounted onl one end of the machine base, as shown in Figure 1, and this leveris connected by a link 224 and a cran-k arm 225 to a rotatable shaft 226. This shaft terminates in a control box shown in Figures 14 and15 Where ithas keyed thereto a ball-V endedcrank 221 engaging a notch formed in the end of piston valve plunger 226 of index control exhaust port 248. the left hand end of cylinder |85 causing the pis- Valve 229. Also keyed on the shaft 226 is a detent plate 236 having two lnotches; which are successively engaged by the pivoted detent 23|,

`which is held in engagement with these `notches yby'a spring 232. In addition, there is keyed lto the shaft 226 an interlock plate 233 which has a shoulder 234 for engaging an interlock lever 235. A springpressed plunger 236 acts on the end of this lever to continuously urge the same into contact with the periphery of the interlock plate.

yOn the other side of the pivot 231, about which the lever 235 swings, is a fluid operated plunger 238 which is adapted tomove the interlock lever o-ut of engagement with'the plate so as to permit rotation of shaft 226.

When the machine is in condition for starting, fluid pressurek is behind the piston 238 so as to hold the interlock lever 235 out of engagement with the notchv 234, and the valve plunger 228 is in the position shown in Figure 15. In this the" shaft 225 in Figure 15 in a clockwise direction thereby shifting the valve plunger 223 toward theright and connecting the pressure port 239 to? port 245, and also connecting port 242 to Fluid pressure thus flowsy into ton |81 to move toward. the right. When. the piston |81 reaches the end. of its stroke and the ratcheting has been completed, a trip dog 249.

` carried `by the slide |90 depresses trip plunger 255, thereby rotating the bell crank 25| in a the left.

clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 15, and shifts the plunger228 backftor its starting position, which automatically reverses the direction of movement of piston |81.

Near the completion of the return movement another trip dog 252, carried by the slide |90, and shown in Figure 14, depresses a plunger 253. This plunger carries a ratchet pawl 254 which engages the teeth onra ratchet wheel 255 keyed to a shaft 255and thereby indexes a cam 251 carried by the shaft through an angle of This shaft also carries a star Wheel 258 against which rides a spring pressed detent 259 to hold the shaft in any one of its indexible positions.

The cam 221 has a ycampath 260 cut in itsv periphery, as more particularly shown in Figure 16, and a follower 26| secured to the end of valve plunger 262 rides in this cam path. It should be obvious upon examination of the form of the cam path as shown inFlgure 16, that/the plunger 252 has two positions and upon each indexing' movement it isshifted from one of these posi-L tions to the other thereof.

Therefore, during one reciprocation of the in#` A.

dexing cylinder piston |61, Valve 252 isin one position and during the next cycle itis in its other position. The function of this valve is to cause hydraulic shifting of a pilot valve which in turn controls the shifting of. the main. control Fluid pressure for actuating the pilot valve is taken from pressure channel 240 and delivered to port 253 to an automatic follow-up valve 264. This valve has two ports 265 and 266 connected by channels 261 and 268 respectively to ports 265 and 216 of valve 21|, in which is contained the plunger 262; plunger 212 of valve 264 has an annular groove 213 whereby the pressure port 263 is connected to either port 269 or port 216 .of valve 21|. In addition the valve plunger 212 has a pair Vof annular grooves 214 and 215 which serve to al-.

ternately connect ports 266 and 265 tov reservoir ports 216 and 211 respectively. Thus the position of plunger 212 determines whether po-rt It will .be seen that theV 265 or port 210 of valve 21| will be a pressure port.

1f the valve plunger 212 is in the position shown in Figure 1'1, then the port 269 becomes the pressure port and when the machineis started this pressure port will be closed because the plunger 262 will be in its right hand shifted position. This means that port 218 which is connected by channel 219 to the left hand end of cylinder 280 is connected to the exhaust port 28| by the annular groove 282. Also the port 283 whichis connected by channel 224 to the right hand end of cylinder 28@ is connected to port 210. But the latter port is connected by annular groove 214 in plunger 212 to the exhaust port 216 -with the result that both ends'of cylinder 280 are connected to reservoir and no fluid pressure is acting ion Opposite ends of its contained Valve piston Now then after the indexing operation has been performed and the cam 251 ratcheted through anr angle of 45, the valve plunger 252 is shifted to This immediately connects pressure port 255 to channel 219 whereby the piston valve 285 is shifted to the right as viewed in Figure 17. At the completion of this shifting movement. a port 286 is uncovered whereby thepressure iiuid entering the cylinder 289 to actuate the piston 285cannow continue through channel 281 to the left hand end of valve 264 and shift the plunger 212 thereofnto its right hand position, thereby disconnecting pressure from port 269 of valve 21| andmaking port 219 of that valve a pressure port.

But at this time, the port 219 is closed so that nothing happens as a result" of changing the natureof the port.

` At the same time that the port 286 was uncovered by1` the piston 285, an annulargroove 288 grooves `2 94 and in plunger 285 interconnected a port 289, to which channel 290 leads from the right hand end of valve 264,`With port 29|, to Which return line 292 is connected. Therefore, when fluid` is `admitted to the left end of cylinder 264 to shift the plunger 212 toward the right the oppositeend of the cyli `inder is connected to reservoir to permit this `movement to immediately take place. In order to "hold the plunger 212 in either one of its two positions a springpressed ball 293, mounted in the wall of cylinder 264, cooperates with detent 2,95 formed in the periphery of plunger 212. i

` Thus the dog 252 on the slide |99 indexes the cam 251 and thereby shifts the valve plunger 262 into a` position to connect pressure to one end of cylinder 280 and" shift the contained piston thereof to the right as viewed in F'igure 17, and at thev completion of this shifting movement, causeoperation `of valve plunger 212 into a position to out off the pressure from cylinder 286, thereby preventing the dissipation of pressure through all of these parts. i

The piston 265 functions as a shifter for moving a plunger 296 of a pilot valve 291, Which f `pilot valve controls hydraulic shifting of the ram reversing valve shown in Figure 11. To this has a ball-ended lever`394 keyed thereto and engaging a notch in the end of the pilot valve plunger 296. i The connections are such that when the plunger 295 is shifted to the right the pilot valveplunger 296 will also be shifted `to the right.

`Ari interlock plate 395 secured to the shaft 393 for preventing inadvertent operation of the pilot valve plunger and to this end `the plate 395 has `fering position. i i

'.a; pair ofshoulders 396 and 391 formed therefon and adapted to be normally engaged by bell cranks 399 399 respectively. In other Words, in

order to rotate the Shaft 393 in either direction from `the central position shown, one or the `other of the bell cranks must be moved to a non-inter- 3 When the machine is in condition for operation of the broaching ram these interlocks are removed automatically. `For` instance, after the locking bolt ofthe index mechanism has returned- `tot the `locking position; an annular groove 3|0 formed in the plunger 291 interconnects apair of ports 3| I and 3|2, the port 3|2ihaving a channel 3|3 connected thereto which leads to a cylinder 3|4 having a contained piston 3|5` for actuating the bell crank 399.

2 I3 to port `3| Since port 3| Vis now a pressure' port, fluid will flow to cylinder 3|4 and thereby remove theinterlock 399. The shaft393 is thus free to be moved in a counterclockwise direction and thereby through the lever 394 shift the pilot valve plunger 296 to the right. i

Shifting of the pilot valve plunger to the right connects a pressure port 3|6, to which pump |16 is connected, to` port 3f|1 by means of the annular groove 3|8 formed in the plunger. A second annular groove 3|`9 formed in the pilot valve plunger connects port 329 to exhaust port 32|. The` effect of this is to cause shifting of the reversing valve plunger shown in Figure 11 be- 3|1 leads to the right hand end of valve 32, and

shuttle valve 49. This Will shift this valve to the. left into the position in which it is shown, while any fluid in the other end of the valve may pass to reservoir through channel 325y which is a branch of channel 323. The result of `this is automatic starting of the `breaching ram because pressure port 38 of the valve is now connected `to port 3| and `iluid will ilow through channel 29 into the right hand end of cylinder 21 and exhaust fluid from the other end ofthe cylinder will return through channel 28, port 30, cannelure 46, and `port 41 to reservoir 36.

Another effect of shifting the pilot valve plunger 296 to the right, `vvas the disconnection of a pressure port 326 in valve 291 from port 321, which has a channel 328 leading .therefrom to port 32,9 of an interlock valve 339. Before `the ram started, a dog 33| carried by the ram was in a position to hold the plunger 332 of interlock valve 339 `in the depressedlposition in which it is shown in Figure 1'1, whereby an annular groove 333 `formed in the plunger interconnected port 329 with port 334. y

It was this interconnection that supplied fluid pressure to cylinder 335which contained the piston 238, previously referred to in connection with Figure 15. In other words, this piston held the interlock lever 235 out of engagement with the interlock plate 234.

It will novv be evident that when the pilot valve plunger is shifted into an operating position to cause `movement of the breaching ram, that fluid pressure is cut oil? from cylinder 336. In addition, as soon asthe ram hasmoved a sufficient amount for the dog 33| to pass out of engagement with the `interlock plunger 332, the port 334 becomes interconnected by the groove 333 to exhaust port` 336 thereby releasing any. fluid pressure in cylinder 335 .and permitting the spring pressed. plunger 236't`o return the interlock lever 235 into ailocking position thereby making it impossible for the operator to manually actuate the starting lever 223 with any effect.

It will now be obvious that. theb-roaching ram `has started on its cutting or feeding stroke and that an interlock has become effective to prevent actuation of the starting lever and thereby initiation of another indexing movement of the carrier `while the broaching or cutting operation is in process.

Attention isinvitecl` to theV fact that when the shaft 393 Wasirotated. to shift the pilot valve plunger into a feed position, that a pinion 331 keyed to the shaft and interengaging rack plungers 338 and '339 moved ythe' rack plunger ,339 upward as viewed in Figure 17, because of counterclockwise rotationy of shaft 333 and moved rack plunger 333 'downward into a positionto be engaged by a dog carried by the ram.

In addition, a manually operable control lever 346, which is connected with shaft 333 for operation thereof at will and which servesmainly as an emergencyv stop-lever, will be thrown from itsl central or stop position counterclookwise or to the left as viewed in Figure 17 into a feed position and since the lever isy interconnected so as to be directional, it indicates that the ram is moving toward the left. i

While the broaching or cutting stroke is in progress, it is possible for the operator to throw the lever 34) back to-r a central position to stop the ram, but further movement beyond this position to cause return movement of the rain willibe prevented' by the interlock38, which is in the path of the shoulder 306 formed on the interlock plate 3635. When the operator throws this lever into va neutral position, he repositions the pilot valve plunger 233 in the central position in which sleeves move. These sleeves are of such length that when fluid pressure is admitted to both cylinders342, and the sleeves are moved toward one another until the shoulders thereon abut the end of their respective cylinders that they will position the valve plunger in the central or stop position in which it is shown in Figure 11. In other words, regardless of rwhich side of the center the valve plunger happens to be in, when the pressure is admitted to cylinders 342 simultaneously, the plunger 33 will be moved back to a stop position.

Since branch lines 324 and 325 are connected to channels 322 and 323 respectively, equal pressure in these last. named channels means that equal unit pressure will be applied to opposite ends of the shuttle valve plunger 43. It will be noted from Figure ll, that one end 343 of this plunger is larger in diameter than the end 344 lil l, so thateven although the unit pressure is the same, the larger end area of piston 343 will cause the plunger to remain in its left hand position or, if not already there, to be shifted into such position. Centralization of control valve plunger 32 will disconnect the pressure port 33 from both ends of the ram cylinder 2l', but will interconnect pressure port :it with the exhaust port 43, whereby the fluid delivered by pump 34 may be returned to reservoir through a low-resistance path and thereby reducethe loaden pump 34, as well as valve plunger 235 in its stopposition and produce the same results just described in connection with movement of lever 349 into its stop position. When the ram reaches the end of its stroke,

another dog 33| will depress plunger so that when the ram has completed its cutting stroke, pressure from pump I'ii will flow through port 323 of the pilot valve 231 to port 32|. and channel 323 to port 339 oi the interlock valve 333. This port ris now interconnected to the interlock cylinder 335 whereby the contained plunger 238 thereof will remove the interlock lever 235 thereby making it possible for the operator to initiate indexing of the work holder by depressing control lever 223. If and when the operator has completed the loading ofwork in the two iixtures at station A, which he is presumably doing during the cutting stroke of the ram, her depresses the control lever 223 causing an indexing movement of 90 of the work holder to takeplace in the manner described heretofore.

At the completion of thisk indexing movement,

there will be no work in the path of theA ram so that it may now be returned, which means that the pilot valve plunger 236 should now shiftto the left and the interlock 358 should be Withdrawn from itsinterlock position. This is effected in the following manner. Referring to Figure i3, a cam plate 345 is. secured to theend ofthe work drum supporting shaft'and provided with two diametricallyopposed cam projections 355i and 348 which project from the periphery of the cam for the purpose of depressing an interlock plunger 349 when lthey contact the same.

When the cam plate 346 is assembled with its shaft, it is so oriented with respect to the work fixtures thatthe projections 33T and 348v lie in the same radial plane as the fixtures.v` Therefore after the 9U indexing movement just explained been completed, the projection 348 will engage and depress the interlock plunger 343. This plunger has an annular groove 350 shown in Figure 17 which, upon depression ofthe plunger,

vwill interconnect port 35| with port 352 which has a channel 353 connected therewith and leading to interlock cylinder 354. This cylinder has a contained plunger 355 for operating the interlock bell crank 308. Thus upon completion ofthe indexing movement, pressure which is now present in channel 3|3 and connected to port35l, will flow to the interlock cylinder 354 and remove the bell crank 338 from the path of movement of shoulder 333 on interlock -plate 335. This will `take place at the same time that pressure is adcause uidfpressure to flow into the left hand end of ram cylinder 21 to cause return movement of the ram and the fluid returning from the other -end of the cylinder 2'1 through channel 29 will be interconnected by the annular groove 356 in the shuttle valve plunger toexhaust port 50.

This is necessary because the spool 351 on the main control valve plunger 33 is in the position to close port 3l.

When the pilot valve plunger 296 is in its left hand position, it also connects ports 3I'| and 321 to exhaust port 358 which, it will be noted, is a wide port, and the spool 359 which is narrower than the port, will be central thereof to make this possible. This means that fluid in the right hand end of cylinder 48 and of main control valve 32 may return to reservoir; throughchannel 322 l thatllthe pressure in interlock cylinder 335,will. i `alsoloe free to passtoreservoir so that the inter-` .matically' set in opration said alternating `mechlock lever-235 will new be in a position to prei ates the starting lever 223 to cause another ini dexing movement of 90 and automatic starting `of another cutting cycle. `ing movement, the interlock plunger 349 was reventfanother indexingmovement during return movement of the ram.` It is to be noted, however,that both :interlocks 3ll8nand 309 are in a` non-effective position whereby the operatorAv is freeytoactuate the manual control lever 340 in. either .direction and itis therefore possible` for. i himto stop thev ram during its returnmovement and even; cause a movement ofthe ram in a feed direction;` In automatic operation, `therarn will continuewitsreturn movement until a dogoll actuates plunger 339` andreturns the pilot valve 296 to alcentral position .when the ram will stop.

iQ-Whilethis returnmevement is in progress, the

operator is causing the removal of the4 nished Work piece onto `the inclined conveyor, and of the Semi-finished work l piece `onto the .swinging cradle bymeans of the power operable work ejecting mechanism controlled by valve H2.

The ram having returned te its starting `position and the workhaving been removedfrom the fixtures located atstation D, the operator actuleased and will remain `released during the cutting stroke thereby causing the interlock 30B to return'to its effective position and thereby preventreturn movement of the ram while the workis in` engagement with the breaching tools. p

There has thus been 'provided an improved breaching machine for the `purposes intended which is automatic in operation; which is capable of handling heavy work pieces without causing undue fatigue of the operator when loading the machine; and which is provided with a sulhcient number of interlocking features that the machine is substantially fool-proof in operation. i

Ihat which is claimed is: l

.1. In a machine tool having a iiuid operable.

ram and a cutting tool supported thereby, the combination of power operable means for recipro- .eating said ram, including a control having a 1 step `position and operating positions on either side thereof, an indexible work `support for suci cessively presenting work to the cutting tool, an

, automaticallyeperable indexing mechanism for. indexing said work support, means operable by said mechanism upon completion of each indexing movement for shifting' said control member from its stop position alternately te itsoperating positions whereby the ram willmove in one direction after oneindexing ef the work support 'and in an opposite direction after the next indexing of the werk support, means operable by the ram `for shifting said control member to its stop position, and manually operable means for initiating the next indexing `movement after the i rain stops. i

2.1n a `breaching machine having a fluid` operable breaching ram and an indexible Work support for successively presenting work to the ram, the combination of control means for effecting an automatic cyclic movement of the ram, including a three-position control valve, a` pilot control circuit for shifting said valve, an indexing mechanism for the Work support, an alternating "one-stroke mechanism for the pilot valve, and ,i meanseperable by the indexing mechanism upon completionof an indexing movement to aute- During this last index- `be moved in either direction.

anism to effect shifting of said p'ilot valve. i 3.\In a breaching machine, ailfiuid operable breaching ram, an indexible work support including a power reciprocable `member having lndexing and ratcheting strokes, and ratchet operable means actuable by said member for causing strokesof the broachingram in opposite directions upon successive actuations of said ratchet operable means. 1

4.\In a breaching machine having aireciprocable ramand a breaching tool mounted thereon,`

`the combination with `power operable control means for shifting said rampincluding a control member having a plurality of positions, of an indexible work `support f mechanism, `.power `means for effecting intermittent indexing movements of said mechanism, and means to automaticallyl transmit motion from. said indexing mechanism to lsaid control member, including an alternating one-strokemechanism having `direction determining means and a cam actuator therefor, operable by the indexing mechanism for sequentially eiiecting different directions of movement of said ram control member,

5. In a breaching machine having a power reciprocable` breaching `ram and an indexible work support, the combination of controlmeans, in-

cluding a power operable indexing mechanism `for said work` support, a startinglever for said mechanism, means operable by said mechanism `upon completion of an indexing movement to automatically start power movement of said ram, and an interlock rendered effective upon move- 4ment of the ram to lock saidstarting lever, whereby another indexing movement will be prevented during movement oi the ram.`

G. A breaching machine having a breaching .i

i rain, an indexible work support, separate power operable means for moving the ram and indexing the support, rst interlock te prevent movement ment of saidram.

7. A breaching machine having in combination a breaching ram, an operating control circuit therefor, including a control member, a work support for carrying work into and out of a breaching position, an interlock rendered effective upon movement of said work to a breachinterlocks for said control member, means responsive during movement of said work to or from the breaching position to render both of said .interlocks effective to prevent movement of said control member, means operable while the work `is in breaching position to render one of said interlocks ineffective wherebysaid control member may cause a feeding movement of the breaching ram, and means operable when the work is in a non-breaching `position to render both of said interlocks .ineffective whereby SLA breaching machine having a `breaching ram, a work support for moving Werk to `and of the ram during operation of said indexing .,inechanism, and a second interlock to prevent operation of said indexing mechanism during movethe ram may co trol "member having a stop position, a pair of y froma ybreaching` positioridvwith respect-to said.

mounted on a shaft extending parallel to the ram, power operable lmeans for 'shifting said ram including a'oontrol-member having a stop position and operating positions on either side thereof, .fluid operable means for Yshifting said coni trol member from any one of said positions to anyH other thereof, including a three-position pilot member, means responsive during move-` ment of the work support either to or from a broaching position to render both Ofsaid interlocks effective, means operable while the work is inbroachingvposition `to` render one of said interlocks ineffective, means responsive when the l work is out of broaching position to render both of said interlocks ineffective, and manually operable means for shifting said ram control mem? ber at Will to a stop position.

v10. In a breaching machine having a support and'` a broaching'ram reciprocable on said sup-v port, the combination of a drum indexibly direction of rainmovernent, 'and automatic control means for sequentially indexing said 'drum 'and causing execution of one stroke of ram movement and 'means for effecting subsequent indexing of the drum priori to'return movement of the ram. l le l 11. In a breaching machine` having a support and a ram slidably` mounted thereon, the combination with power operable means for'moving the ramy in one direction on a cutting stroke and in the other direction on a'return stroke, of an indexible work supporting drum, a .shaft supporting said drum for movement about an axis v.

parallel to the 'direction of ram movement,v power operable means for indexing said drum,.and an alternator responsive to, each indexing movement of the drum for initiating movement ofthe ram whereby after one indexing of the drum ther ram will feed in a cutting stroke, and after the next indexing the ram will return.

v MILLARD ROMAINE. 

